Date: 01/26/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-074

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved that Senate Bill 09-074 be postponed indefinPASS

01:41 PM -- Senate Bill 09-074

Senator Brophy, prime sponsor, described the provisions of Senate Bill 09-074. He said that gun ownership is an individual right and noted that Colorado has laws regarding safe storage of firearms. He said that Senate Bill 09-074 will eliminate these laws and reduce potential litigation relating to safe gun storage. He said that there is growing concern regarding gun owners' rights in Colorado.

The following persons testified on Senate Bill 09-074.

01:45 PM -- Chris Olson, representing the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, stated the opposition of his organization to Senate Bill 09-074. He said that this opposition is due to concerns with the constitutionality of Senate Bill 09-074, and the safety of the public. He stated concern with the definition of the term "accessory" in Senate Bill 09-074 and said that local governments should be able to regulate the safe storage of firearms.

01:52 PM -- Ted Pascoe, representing Colorado Ceasefire, opposed Senate Bill 09-074. He said that Senate Bill 09-074 is an overreaction to a recent Supreme Court case. He said that Senate Bill 09-074 will contradict the findings of this Supreme Court decision. He noted that nineteen states have enacted similar laws. He said that Senate Bill 09-074 will allow the sale of machine guns in Colorado and that it will be dangerous to the public.

02:00 PM -- Denise Washington, representing the Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence, opposed Senate Bill 09-074. She said that gun ownership is a right, but that the guns should be stored safely. She said that the requirement to lock a gun gives potential victims some time to leave the scene before a gun can be used in a crime.

02:07 PM -- Steve Schreiner, President, Firearms Coalition of Colorado, supported Senate Bill 09-074. He said that there are many types of weapons that have "selective fire capability."

02:09 PM -- David Kopel, representing the Independence Institute, said that his organization has not taken an official position on Senate Bill 09-074. He commented on the rights of offenders to obtain weapons, and on the right of an individual to own a machine gun. He commented on the City of Denver's regulation of firearms, and said that Denver's ordinance is well-intentioned, but problematic. He noted that the Denver ordinance prevents teaching a child the safe operation of a firearm, and that many other legitimate activities are prohibited by the ordinance. He said that there are many dangerous things in a home and that the state already has good laws addressing reckless endangerment. He noted that firearms deaths have declined dramatically over the last 50 years.
BILL:SB09-074
TIME: 02:29:56 PM
MOVED:Boyd
MOTION:Moved that Senate Bill 09-074 be postponed indefinitely. The motion passed on a 3-2-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Boyd
Yes
Cadman
No
Schultheis
No
Bacon
Yes
Williams
Yes
Final YES: 3 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS